State of Origin 2016: Paul Gallen says Queensland are playing mind games with Cooper Cronk

PAUL Gallen has accused the Queensland camp of using Cooper Cronk as a pawn to get under the Blues skin ahead of Origin I.

Paul Gallen says the Maroons are playing mind games

PAUL Gallen has accused the Queensland camp of using up one of their own — by claiming halfback Cooper Cronk has been used as a pawn in a failed attempt to get under the skin of the NSW Blues.

The Maroons camp have persisted to play a game of cat and mouse with the media ever since Cronk rolled his ankle last Friday at training.

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Gallen said the Maroons ploy to keep the media guessing about Cronk’s fitness ahead of the Origin opener on Wednesday night was merely “ducks and drakes”.

“I have no doubt Cooper will play,’’ Gallen said.

“He’s not the type of bloke to play games, I don’t think.

“I’m sure he will be disappointed in the way he was used as a pawn. I think it was a bit of a game by them. A bit of ducks and drakes. I’m pretty confident he’ll play.

“I don’t think Cooper is like that, not at all. He would have hurt himself and would have been doing everything he could to get it better.

“We all know that and the mind games, I suppose they started with him.’’

Gallen added that NSW coach Laurie Daley wouldn’t consider using his squad up in the same manner.

“Loz isn’t like that. He’s very upfront. We’ve been a bit of an open book this time around,’’ Gallen said.